Pixellointi

Pixellointi is a Finnish term that translates to "pixellation" or "pixelation" in English. It refers to the visual effect of seeing individual square pixels that make up a digital image, rather than a smooth, continuous representation. This effect typically occurs when a digital image is displayed at a size much larger than its original resolution, or when an image is compressed too aggressively, causing a loss of detail.

The visible square blocks of color are the individual pixels, which are the smallest controllable elements of a picture represented on a screen. When an image is enlarged beyond its intended dimensions, the software displaying it has to interpolate or guess the color of the pixels in the new space, leading to the appearance of distinct, blocky squares. Similarly, certain image compression algorithms work by grouping similar colored pixels together or discarding some pixel information to reduce file size, which can result in a pixellated appearance upon decompression.

Pixellointi can be an unintentional artifact of image manipulation or display, but it can also be used intentionally as an artistic or stylistic choice in digital art and graphic design. For example, retro-style video games often deliberately employ pixellation to evoke a nostalgic aesthetic. The term is commonly used in discussions about image quality, digital art techniques, and the limitations of digital display technologies.